Vokoun may face ex-mates

Goalie Tomas Vokoun admits it would mean a lot to play against his former team at Nashville tonight.

"I would like to say it's just another game, but when you spend so much time in one place, then you go back, there are mixed feelings," said Vokoun, an original Predator who after eight seasons was traded to Florida in June for three draft picks.

"I don't have any hard feelings from there, only good ones. Sometimes players come out of a bad situation, and they're mad at the franchise. It's not the case."

Vokoun said he's leaving the decision to coach Jacques Martin, but "I always want to play in every game."

Vokoun, who has stayed in contact with several former teammates, said he hasn't spoken to close friend Chris Mason, who was his backup but now starts for the Preds, since before the season. Mason's start, he was 2-6 entering Friday, has made it harder to pick up the phone.

Vokoun, who said he views his return to Nashville "more of a business trip" because it's just one day long, likely will receive a warm ovation tonight.

While a Predator, he spent much of his free time visiting young cancer patients at the children's hospital at Vanderbilt University and watched games with them while injured last season from a luxury suite he bought for them.

"I got lots of mail and e-mail from them," Vokoun said. "That's one of the things you're always going to remember."

ODDS AND ENDS

Winger Rostislav Olesz, who had surgery Thursday on his broken right hand, will be out three to six weeks, Martin said. ...

Defenseman Jassen Cullimore, 34, signed a one-year deal on Friday, but will first report to the Panthers' AHL club in Rochester, N.Y. for two weeks of conditioning.

Cullimore (6-5, 235) isn't the enforcer that Martin has sought, but he can fight. He has 29 goals, 51 assists and 621 penalty minutes in 643 career NHL games with four teams, most recently the Lightning (1998-2004) and Blackhawks (2005-06).

INFORMATIONAL BOX:

PANTHERS AT PREDATORS

When/where: 8 p.m., Gaylord Entertainment Center, Nashville, Tenn.

TV: None. Radio: WAXY (790-AM)

About the Panthers: The Panthers are 5-1-3-1 in their past 10 games against the Predators, but haven't won at Nashville since Dec. 11, 1999...SW Ville Peltonen needed one point for 100 in his career and C Olli Jokinen needed two for 400...The Panthers didn';t win their second road game last season until Nov. 20.

About the Predators: The Predators' 3-0 win against the Thrashers on Thursday snapped a six-game losing streak, one shy of tying the franchise record from 1999. Jerred Smithson's goal in the first period ended the team's scoring drought of 150-plus game minutes...G Chris Mason was benched for Thursday's game, as was $3.2 million defenseman Marek Zidlicky, who is minus-4 with three assists this season..The Predators' six points are tied for second fewest in the NFL. -STEVE GORTEN